ROCHESTER, NY (WHAM) – As calls for accountability grow louder, state delegates from Rochester are speaking out about graphic body-worn camera footage from inside a state prison.

BACKGROUND: AG releases video showing Rochester inmate being beaten to death at New York State Penitentiary

“I think anyone in their right mind would look at this and be horrified,” said 134th District Assemblymember Josh Jensen.

“I think what we saw in that video was an absolutely depraved act,” said State Senator Jeremy Cooney of the 56th District.

Robert Brooks, a Rochester native, was serving a 12-year sentence for assault following a 2017 conviction in Monroe County. Cooney and Jensen both watched the Marcy State Correctional Facility videos released Friday.

The videos showed a violent encounter between several correctional officers and Brooks, who was pronounced dead a day later at a Utica hospital.

“This type of violence should never take place against another human being and it was very difficult to watch,” Cooney said.

“No one should be treated like that or taken advantage of to some extent and treated less than, less than human,” Jensen said.

Greater Rochester’s majority delegation, consisting of Cooney, Assemblymembers Harry Bronson, Jen Lunsford, Sarah Clark, Demond Meeks and Senator Brouk, also released a statement calling the incident inhumane.

“We are deeply disturbed and heartbroken by the revelations surrounding the death of Mr. Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility. The details emerging from this horrific incident, including reports and videos of a brutal attack by correctional officers, are nothing short of horrifying and “tell us that officers lack humanity, empathy and compassion,” the statement reads in part .

Cooney expressed a desire for policy changes related to the use of body-worn cameras to ensure accountability. The attorney general said the body-worn cameras were on standby; Video recording but no audio.

Earlier Friday, the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision announced an immediate expansion of its body-worn camera policies; All correctional officers are now required to have their body-worn cameras activated when interacting directly with incarcerated individuals.

“That tone is very important to the context,” Cooney said. “These body-worn cameras… They are designed to protect not only the incarcerated, but also the correctional officers who put themselves in a very difficult situation every day.”

“I think throughout law enforcement there are discussions about body-worn cameras: when they should be worn, when they should be turned on… It wouldn’t be a shock to me if we as legislators continued to engage with these issues.” , Jensen added.

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